Bomb disposal experts and
police rushed to the scene, as did Golden Dawn’s spokesman, Ilias Kasidiaris,
who appeared dressed in a white forensic suit.

“It was a powerful blast
that caused a lot of damage,” said a police spokesman. “It looks like
terrorism.”

He added that the attack probably was the work of a group on
the far Left of the Greek political spectrum.

The once obscure
ultra-nationalist People’s Association – Golden Dawn, known colloquially by the
second part of its name, is considered a neo-Nazi group – and has become
increasingly popular since Greece’s financial crisis began. It garnered 6.9
percent of the vote in June’s parliamentary elections.

Its members use a
Nazi-type salute and its emblem resembles a swastika. Golden Dawn is daily
winning over many who are fed up with illegal immigration, political corruption
and austerity policies. It is especially popular in neighborhoods that, once
quiet middle class havens, have been overrun by illegal immigrants.

“I
was never afraid to go out alone at night, but I have been mugged and am lucky I
was not killed,” said an Athens resident who preferred to give only her
initials, N.C. She said she nevertheless would not think of voting for Golden
Dawn.

Although it has not officially proclaimed itself a neo-Nazi party,
it has praised individual Nazis.

Leader Nikos Mihaloliakos himself has
said, “We are racist and nationalist and we are not hiding that.”

Golden
Dawn has said it wants to rid Greece of all foreigners, including what it calls
the “stench” of immigrants.